Loading Market ...

Robson followed up his 129 in the second innings of the draw with Surrey with a polished unbeaten 136 as the visitors took control before rain halted play at Edgbaston.

Warwickshire, who had seamers Chris Woakes, Chris Wright and Keith Barker missing, were left to regret dropping Robson on 73 when Rikki Clarke put down a regulation catch at second slip off Tom Milnes.

The hosts turned to the occasional medium pace of England batsman Jonathan Trott to keep Robson quiet and by posting two short extra covers they managed to check his progress, although they could not dismiss him as he reached 500 championship runs for the season.

It was the bounce of paceman Boyd Rankin which caused most of the problems for Middlesex, although Jeetan Patel finished with two wickets to the former Ireland player's one.

Opener Chris Rogers (33) was struck a painful blow on his right elbow by a delivery that lifted sharply before he fell to the fifth ball after lunch, under-edging a cut off Rankin to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose.

Robson and Joe Denly then added 95 in 21 overs for the second wicket and appeared in little trouble until Denly went down the pitch to New Zealand off-spinner Patel and was stumped by Ambrose for 35.

Dawid Malan raced to 37 from 36 balls and was unhappy to be given out lbw by umpire Steve Gale when Patel went round the wicket to him, while Robson and Neil Dexter (21 not out) saw it out until rain forced the players off at 4.50pm.